HHS Inspector General Confirms Investigation into CMS Use of Communications Consultants

ANCOR is sharing this article by Politico Pulse as an update on this previous article on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma’s use of media consultant. It is important for our members to be informed of internal considerations that could affect policy-makers’ bandwidth on key disability issues.

As shared by Politico Pulse:

“INSPECTOR GENERAL: WE’RE FORMALLY INVESTIGATING CMS COMMS CONTRACTS — The watchdog on Monday announced that it’s reviewing the agency’s strategic communications contracts. POLITICO previously reported that CMS Administrator Seema Verma was using the contracts with Republican communications consultants to raise her profile and accompany her on travel.

“The review focuses on CMS’ awarding of contracts for strategic communications work and whether the contracts complied with applicable federal statutes, regulations, and HHS policies and procedures,” an OIG spokesperson told PULSE. The watchdog earlier this year acknowledged it had begun a preliminary probe.

Target date for the review’s completion: 2020.”